Chapter 197 Lea, Watch Out! (CALIA)

Chapter 197 Lea, Watch Out! (CALIA)
I hadn't known a moment's peace since Elion barged into my room and unleashed sheer terror. Fate had a strange way of working. After four years of living quietly, God had thrown Elion back into my life to turn it upside down. I had thought he would stop bothering me after I kicked him out of my Amsterdam apartment, but in reality, he was only more determined to disrupt my life. He had even shown up on my very first day back at the hospital. If it had been any other man, I would have been shocked. But Elion was the most powerful man in Chicago. He clearly had people watching me all along.
“Lea, don’t kick the ball too far away.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
My eyes scanned the entire park. It was the first time I’d brought Lea to the park since we moved to Chicago a week ago. Honestly, I was still quite traumatized by the shooting, but I couldn't let myself drown in fear for too long. I couldn't be selfish, keeping Lea cooped up in our apartment just because of my own fears wasn't fair. She deserved to play with friends, run around the park, and enjoy the warm Chicago air.
I had intentionally cleared my schedule this weekend for Lea. We’d gone grocery shopping that morning and then baked a chocolate cake together.
"Mommy, I made a new friend."
She ran toward me, her brown hair sticking to her sweaty forehead.
"Really? What’s his name?"
"I don't know. He was playing ball with me."
The boy was standing next to Lea’s pink ball. He looked two or three years older than her. He waved at Lea.
"I want a drink."
I handed her the Tupperware bottle.
"Are you tired? Let's go home and take a bath."
"Wait. Let me play with him one more time."
"Okay. But don't go too far." I smiled, seeing Lea so happy playing with her new friend.
“Okay, Mommy.”
I had planned to take her to visit Grandma’s and my parents' graves the next day. It would be Lea’s first time meeting her grandparents. I somewhat regretted having sold my grandmother’s house four years ago. I hadn't thought I’d ever return to Chicago, so I sold it to a real estate agent right before moving to Amsterdam. Now, I couldn't show Lea the house where I had spent my childhood.
"Mommy, my ball rolled over there."
"Wait, I’ll get it for you."
Her pink ball had rolled out onto the street. I ran after Lea before she could dash into the road to retrieve it, but my little girl was incredibly fast. Suddenly, I saw her crouching in the middle of the street to pick up the ball. From the right, I saw a car speeding straight toward her.
"Lea, watch out!"
My heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest as I watched my little girl’s body fly into the air and slam hard against the ground.
"Lea!" I screamed, lifting her bleeding body. She went limp in my arms, and her pulse felt dangerously weak.
"Someone, please call an ambulance."
I wept hysterically, blaming myself over and over for letting Lea run into the street to get her ball.
"Ma'am, the ambulance is here."
I didn't want to let go of Lea at all, but the medical team took her from me and laid her on a gurney. I felt utterly helpless, unable to do anything for my daughter as she fought between life and death. The medics fitted an oxygen tube to her nose and monitored her heartbeat. Instantly, memories of the shooting came crashing back. I had watched my grandmother die right before my eyes, and I was terrified the same thing would happen to my daughter.
"Please, hang on. Mommy loves you."
We arrived at the hospital, and Lea was immediately rushed into the ER by the medical team. I ran into Dimitry by chance in front of the ER.
"Calia, what's wrong?"
"Lea..."
"What happened to Lea?"
I sobbed uncontrollably, my chest so tight I could barely speak.
"Lea... A car hit her near the park."
Dimitry pulled me into his arms, and I wept against his chest.
"It’s all my fault. I failed to look after Lea properly."
"No, it was an accident. You love Lea so much. You would never let anything bad happen to her."
"I’m terrified. What... What if I lose Lea?"
"No. She’s a strong girl. She’ll make a full recovery."
Those were the most agonizing twenty minutes of my life. I waited in uncertainty outside the ER with Dimitry. My hands were clammy; I kept wringing them in my lap, my eyes never leaving the ER doors.
"Why is it taking them so long to examine Lea?"
"They need time. Be patient. Everything will be fine," he said, squeezing my thigh.
"Should I go in there?"
"No. Let the doctors handle Lea."
"But I’m her mother, and I’m a doctor."
"Calia, you’re too distraught to treat Lea. Trust them with her, okay?"
I nodded. My lips kept whispering prayers to God, begging Him to save Lea. I would have gladly traded my own life for my little girl's if it meant saving her.
I jerked upright as the ER doors opened. Chloe walked toward me, looking weary.
"How is my daughter?"
"She’s lost a lot of blood. She needs a transfusion—at least two bags."
"But?"
Dimitry squeezed my shoulder to steady me.
"We’re out of Type B blood."
"My blood type is A."
I turned to look at Dimitry.
"What about you?"
"I’m AB."
My head sank low, staring at the floor.
"Isn't there any stock at other hospitals or the blood bank?" Dimitry asked Chloe.
"I’ve tried asking, but there’s no word yet from the other hospitals. We need that blood as soon as possible."
"Calia..."
"I know who can do it."
Dimitry knew what I was thinking. He shook his head.
"Are you sure? But he..."
"He is her father. They have the same blood type. Elion can donate blood for Lea."
"But he doesn't know Lea is his daughter."
"He knows. He has a hunch, even though I never told him who Lea really is."
I pulled Dimitry's hand off my shoulder.
"I’ll do anything for my daughter—even if it means begging Elion."
"What if he refuses?"
"I don't know, but I have to try. I’m going to see Elion right now."
"I’ll drive you, then."
"No, you stay here with Lea. Keep me updated on her condition. I’ll be back soon."